Handling reference time delivery failure in a time-sensitive network (TSN)

Abstract

Embodiments include methods for a user equipment (UE) to synchronize timing with a wireless network. Such methods include receiving, from a first node serving a first cell in the wireless network, a first message that includes an absolute reference time and a corresponding reference event within downlink, DL, transmissions by the first node; and determining whether the UE received, from the first node, a timing adjustment value from which the UE can estimate a propagation delay of the DL transmissions. Such methods include, based on determining that the UE did not receive the timing adjustment value, performing one of the following: transmitting, to the first node, an indication that the UE did not receive the timing adjustment value; or declaring radio link failure with respect to the first cell and establishing a connection with a second cell capable of providing the information included in the first message.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for a user equipment (UE) to synchronize timing with a wireless network, the method comprising:
 receiving, from a first node serving a first cell in the wireless network, a first message that includes an absolute reference time and a corresponding reference event within downlink (DL) transmissions by the first node; 
 determining whether the UE received, from the first node, a timing advance (TA) command that indicates an amount of timing adjustment that the UE should apply to uplink (UL) transmissions; and 
 based on determining that the UE did not receive the TA command, performing one of the following operations:
 transmitting to the first node an indication that the UE did not receive the TA command; or 
 declaring radio link failure (RLF) with respect to the first cell and establishing a connection with a second cell that is capable of providing the information included in the first message. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining whether the UE received the TA command comprises determining whether the UE received a medium access control (MAC) control element (CE) comprising a TA value during one or more of the following:
 a most recent first duration; and 
 a second duration after receiving the first message. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , further comprising, based on determining that the UE did receive the TA command, selectively using the TA value for estimating the propagation delay of the DL transmissions. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , wherein selectively using the TA value comprises using the TA value only when the value of a flag, received with the TA command in the MAC CE, is different from a most recent value of the flag received with a most recent TA command. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving from the first node a timer value associated with a timing advance group (TAG) that includes the first cell; and 
 initiating a timer based on the timer value upon receiving a previous TA command from the first node, 
 wherein determining that the UE did not receive the TA command is based on expiration of the timer. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , wherein transmitting the indication that the UE did not receive the TA command is responsive to expiration of the timer. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 5 , wherein declaring RLF is based on the timer being initiated and expiring a plurality of consecutive times without receiving the TA command. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the method further comprises sending to the first node an indication of a UE preference for receiving reference time information from the wireless network; and 
 the first message is received in response to the indication. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein establishing a connection with a second cell that is capable of providing the information included in the first message comprises:
 receiving information broadcast by the second cell; and 
 determining that the received information includes a field reserved for delivery of reference time information. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , wherein establishing a connection with a second cell that is capable of providing the information included in the first message comprises:
 sending, to a second node serving the second cell, a reestablishment request message comprising a request for reference time information; and 
 receiving from the second node a unicast reestablishment message comprising the requested reference time information. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first node, the first cell, and the second cell are part of a standalone non-public network (SNPN). 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first node is part of a public network integrated non-public network (PNI-NPN); 
 the UE is part of a closed access group (CAG) associated with the PNI-NPN; and 
 the first cell and the second cell are associated with the CAG. 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving, from the first node, a retransmission of the TA command after transmitting the indication. 
     
     
       14. A method for a first node serving a first cell of a wireless network to synchronize timing with a user equipment (UE) the method comprising:
 transmitting to the UE a first message that includes an absolute reference time and a corresponding reference event within downlink (DL) transmissions by the first node; 
 periodically transmitting to the UE respective timing advance (TA) commands that indicate an amount of timing adjustment that the UE should apply to each UL transmission; and 
 based on determining that the UE did not receive one of the periodic transmissions of the TA commands, retransmitting the non-received TA command to the UE. 
 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the respective TA commands are transmitted in respective medium access control (MAC) control elements (CEs). 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , further comprising sending to the UE a timer value associated with a timing advance group (TAG) that includes the first cell, wherein the timer value is related to a period between successive transmissions of respective TA commands. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 , wherein determining that the UE did not receive one of the periodic transmissions comprises receiving from the UE an indication that the UE did not receive the TA command during a duration corresponding to the timer value. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 15 , wherein:
 each TA command is transmitted in a MAC CE together with a flag; 
 a first value of the flag indicates that a timing adjustment value of the TA command is different from a timing adjustment value of the most recently transmitted TA command; and 
 a second value of the flag indicates that the timing adjustment value of the TA command is the same as the timing adjustment value of the most recently transmitted TA command. 
 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the method further comprises receiving from the UE an indication of the UE's preference for receiving reference time information from the wireless network; and 
 the first message is sent in response to the indication. 
 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the first node and the first cell are part of a standalone non-public network (SNPN). 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the first node is part of a public network integrated non-public network (PNI-NPN); 
 the UE is part of a closed access group (CAG) associated with the PNI-NPN; and 
 the first cell is associated with the CAG. 
 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 21 , further comprising transmitting the first message in one or more further cells associated with the CAG. 
     
     
       23. A user equipment (UE) configured to synchronize timing with a wireless network, the UE comprising:
 communication interface circuitry configured to communicate with a first node in the wireless network; and 
 processing circuitry operably coupled to the communication interface circuitry, whereby the processing circuitry and the communication interface circuitry are configured to:
 receive, from a first node serving a first cell in the wireless network, a first message that includes an absolute reference time and a corresponding reference event within downlink (DL) transmissions by the first node; 
 determine whether the UE received, from the first node, a timing advance (TA) command that indicates an amount of timing adjustment that the UE should apply to UL transmissions; and 
 based on determining that the UE did not receive the TA command, perform one of the following operations:
 transmit to the first node an indication that the UE did not receive the TA command; or 
 declare radio link failure (RLF) with respect to the first cell and establish a connection with a second cell that is capable of providing the information included in the first message. 
 
 
 
     
     
       24. A first node configured to serve a first cell of a wireless network and to synchronize timing with a user equipment (UE), the first node comprising:
 communication interface circuitry configured to communicate with the UE; and 
 processing circuitry operably coupled with the communication interface circuitry,
 whereby the processing circuitry and the communication interface circuitry are configured to perform operations corresponding to the method of  claim 14 .